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Is Your Home Ready for Winter?
Check out tips to keep your home's plumbing freeze-proof.
When a deep freeze hits, our emergency line lights up with customers reporting no water at the tap. A common culprit? Frozen pipes—a problem Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) crews can't fix because those icy pipes belong to the homeowner, not the city.
Besides cutting off water, frozen pipes can also burst and lead to expensive repairs.
Now that it's a little warmer, it's time to take easy steps like making sure your outdoor water spigots are disconnected. It's easy to protect your plumbing, so take action now to avoid issues later this winter!
Check out the video below for cold weather tips!
Six Tips to Prevent a Cold-Weather Nightmare
Let faucets run at a trickle overnight during extremely cold weather. It costs only pennies, and the moving water will help prevent the pipes from freezing.
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Wrap and insulate all water pipes in unheated areas, such as your basement. Pay close attention to pipes near exterior walls, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.
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Identify the location of the shutoff valves for your water supply, usually near the water meter. In emergencies, use the house-side service valve to shut off your water supply.
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Keep the water meter area above 40F. Freezing temperatures can break the meter. If it becomes damaged, homeowners are responsible for fixing it.
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Repair or replace broken exterior windows. Cover windows with plastic and caulk windows near water meters and pipes. Even using an old blanket to cover a drafty window or door can help. When cold air blows on a pipe, it increases the risk of freezing.
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Disconnect garden hoses and shut off the outdoor water supply. Most outdoor faucets/spigots have a dedicated shutoff valve inside your house. Turn that off first, and leave the outside faucet open to drain the pipe.
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Extra: Check out this essential winter preparedness blog from our partners at the Office of Emergency Management for everything you need to know about staying safe in Philly during cold months!
The Philadelphia Water Department supplies drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services to customers.
Learn more at water.phila.gov.
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